10 Creatively Creamy Mac & Cheese Recipes

We just can’t help ourselves in the food department this week. With today being National Macaroni Day, we’re sharing 10 creative ways to celebrate this classic comfort food. Mac & cheese can be seen all over menus these days and the reason is obvious. But whether you have it out of a box, at a restaurant or from scratch, chances are you’ve never made it in one of these 10 cleverly delicious ways.

Take mac and cheese, add some more cheese, a bit of pulled BBQ chicken, and melt it all between two flour tortillas. This simple twist on a traditional quesadilla makes use of deli-ready BBQ pulled chicken and pre-made mac-and-cheese for a quick, tasty meal. Perfect for party appetizers and even better for a quick dinner!

Directions: In a small bowl, mix together mac & cheese, chicken, shredded cheddar, cilantro and green onions. Spread mixture between two flour tortillas. Butter the outside of the tortillas. Cook on a skillet over medium heat until the cheese is melted. Flip and cook on the second side until golden brown.

Remove quesadillas from skillet and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes before cutting into wedges. Serve and enjoy!

Check out all of these recipes, find a favorite, and dish up a pot of creative mac & cheese tonight. Since everyone already loves mac & cheese, you’ll be sure to serve it to a table full of happy eaters!

Before you shop: The most popular cheese used in making mac & cheese is cheddar. The first written recipe for it was used in 13th Century Italy with lasagna sheets and fermented cheese.

Brooke McLay is a professional recipe developer, food photographer, food writer, and single mom to four rad kids. Author of two cookbooks and the beloved blog, CheekyKitchen.com, her creative approach to fast, fresh, family-friendly foods has garnered her regular gigs with Disney’s Babble.com, Tablespoon.com, Good Cook, and Coupons.com.